BRIGHTON – Manchester City’s sluggish start to the new Premier League season took a dramatic turn for the worse on Sunday, as they surrendered a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 to a resilient Brighton & Hove Albion at a raucous Amex Stadium.
The result means the reigning champions have now failed to beat the Seagulls in all three meetings since Fabian Hürzeler took charge (D1, L2), and marks a second consecutive season City have left Brighton after losing a 1-0 lead.
The match began at a frantic pace, with both sides wasting golden one-on-one opportunities inside the opening 15 minutes. Erling Haaland, who was a constant menace in the first half, was first denied by a smart Bart Verbruggen save. Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma then mirrored the miss, seeing his own breakaway chance thwarted by City goalkeeper James Trafford.
The deadlock was broken just after the half-hour mark by the inevitable Haaland, marking his 100th Premier League appearance in style. The Norwegian striker pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area and prodded it calmly into the corner to give the visitors a deserved lead.
City continued to press after the break, with Oscar Bobb spurning a gilt-edged chance to double the advantage. The miss proved pivotal, as the momentum shifted decisively in Brighton’s favor.
The turning point arrived when a VAR review confirmed a handball by City’s Matheus Nunes inside the box. Veteran midfielder and former City player James Milner stepped up to take the resulting penalty, coolly sending Trafford the wrong way to become the oldest goalscorer from the spot in Premier League history.
With Pep Guardiola growing visibly frustrated on the touchline, it was Brighton who pushed for a winner. Their pressure was rewarded in the 89th minute when substitute Brajan Gruda broke clear of the City defense, rounded the onrushing Trafford, and slotted into an empty net to secure Brighton’s first three points of the campaign.
The defeat leaves Manchester City with questions to answer after an uncharacteristically vulnerable start, while Brighton and Hürzeler celebrate a historic victory against the league giants.
